Klipsch Image S4

Competition is fierce amongst headphones that cost under £100, and the number of attractive options keeps on growing.  After its Image S2 heapdhones, Klipsch is back for more with these new Image S4s.

Handling: getting a case is good, but ear tips are better

Klipsch has long enjoyed a good reputation for providing a generous set of accessories with its headphones, which meant we more than just a little disappointed when we unpacked the S4s: there's just a solid case--and a relatively bulky one and that--two pairs of single tips and one with a double flange as well as a cleaning tool.  That's a pretty lightweight selection.

Things got better when we tried them on though: the S4s are very comfortable to wear, and, above all, discrete if you keep the cable behind your ear.  But then again, you need to be careful if you do that as the cable isn't very long, so that could prove tricky if your MP3 player is normally in the pocket of your trousers.

The end of the cable has an elbow joint, which some people like but others don't.  It's also worth pointing out that the double-flanged tips are medium sized.  That means not everybody will be able to use them, even though that provides the best quality audio.

Audio Quality: the final nail in the coffin for the old-timers

The difference between the first generation of in-ear headphones and those that we're getting to know now is incredible.  With two separate internal components, the S4 is one of the first sets of in-ear headphones to reach out for technology until recently confined to products that cost £200 or more.

When you listen to them, the results are very welcome.  Bass is audible and clean, with no hint of unclarity.  The same is true for treble, where the sound is shiny, without falling into the trap of sounding too spikey like more accurate headphones do.  The mid range, which is always a tricky area because of the crossover between the elements that produce bass and those that work on treble, is reasonably well-adjusted, and are present without any sign of exaggeration.

Indeed, it's the differing levels of accuracy across a very wide range of sounds that is the most noticeable difference between these and more high-end headphones.  That said, the results here are far from jumbled.

The Image S4s proved to be an excellent surprise, and can easily join the ranks of the latest generation of in-ear headphones with a lot of promise.  It's a shame that a few usability issues and the lack of accessories keep them from reaching the level of the D-Jays, which are increasingly difficult to hold of, unfortunately.